Despite initial excitement and a star-studded cast that included Lisa Kudrow, the series failed to secure a strong enough following in the US to continue beyond its first season.
The show, which aimed to reimagine the beloved 1981 cult classic film of the same name, had been in development since 2018, even before the launch of Apple TV+. The series was produced by the UK’s HandMade Films, in collaboration with Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris as creators, alongside Waititi.
Although Time Bandits performed better in the UK, its overall reception was not enough to justify a second season. Deadline reported that this cancellation is part of a broader effort by Apple to trim the budget for Apple TV+, which includes scaling back its $1 billion annual budget for theatrical releases.
The show's cancellation marks the end of a long and ambitious journey to bring the quirky, time-traveling adventures of Time Bandits to modern television audiences.